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The structure of above-ground macrotermite mounds facilitates gas exchange in the below-ground nest using internal air currents driven by solar heat.

Differences in position and shape of burrow openings of black-tailed prairie dogs create passive ventilation from wind energy by altering air pressure.

The carotid rete of the Thomson's gazelle cools its brain via counter-current heat exchange.

The coat of a reindeer insulates against polar cold with the help of dense underfur that traps air.

A sugar-based polymer produced by an Alaskan darkling beetle keeps cell contents from freezing in extreme cold temperatures by attaching to the cell membrane.

Pigments in the oriental hornet’s cuticle absorb solar energy that is turned into electrical energy.

Leaves of olive trees optimize sunlight harvesting by differing in shape and being flexible to changing conditions

Tendons in hind limbs use elastic recoil to boost energy efficiency.

The body of rainbow trout decreases energy required for swimming by interacting with vortices in its fluid environment.

Colonies of social insects self-organize and carry out complex group tasks through many simple individual interactions.

Wetland plants, bacteria, and the physical environment work together to remove particles and pollutants  

Aquaporin molecules form a channel that allows water to move across cell membranes.

The nasal surfaces of camels help conserve water by using hygroscopic properties to remove water from air during exhalation.

Pigments and nanoscale structures collaborate to help chameleon change its look.

Wings of morpho butterflies create color by causing light waves to diffract and interfere.

Layers of weak and stretchy organic material between brittle mineral layers in nacre make the whole composite tough by managing cracks.

Scales on striped bass provide high resistance to penetration due to their double-layer structure.

Photosynthesis in plants makes useful organic compounds out of carbon dioxide through carbon-fixation reactions.

Bacterial cells produce polyester granuals in water at ambient temperature and pressure via enzymatic self-assembly.

The eggs of the white rock shell snail ward off microbial attack with a series of physical, mechanical, and potentially chemical defenses

Leaves of the sacred lotus are self-cleaning thanks to hydrophobic microscale bumps.

The highly sensitive whiskers of harbor seals reduce vortex-induced vibrations during swimming due to their undulating surface structure.

Specialized feathers of the owl enable near-silent flight by altering air turbulence and absorbing noise.

The leaf structure of the Salvinia water fern retains a layer of air when submerged in water due to water-resistant hairs that possess water-attracting tips.

Darkling beetle wing covers and body postures help condense water from humid air.

The waterbear survives extreme environmental conditions by entering a reversibly suspended metabolic state known as cryptobiosis.

Diverse plant species in prairie grasslands support a long-term, stable ecosystem because they exhibit complementary functionality.

Mussel byssal threads attach to wet rocks using adhesive proteins that first prime their surfaces and then chemically bind to them.

The silica skeleton of the Venus’s flower-basket sea sponge is tough and stable because multiple levels of organization each help to manage forces.

The shell of the golden-scale snail protects from attack with a specialized tri-layered composition